Trainer, 2009 grad Bartel helps US Paralympians prepare

Callie Bartel, a 2009 Human Biology graduate of UW-Green Bay and a first-year assistant athletics trainer for Phoenix Athletics, had a tremendous experience recently. Bartel, an employee of Prevea Sports Medicine, kicked off her summer with a trip to Chula Vista, Calif., to serve as an athletic trainer for the U.S. Paralympic throwing team during a final tune-up for the U.S. Paralympics Track and Field Nationals coming up in San Antonio. “It was an inspiration to work with these athletes because even though they might have been injured and forced to live life differently than they had envisioned, they make the most out of life and stay extremely motivated,” Bartel said. While at the camp she learned just how in-tune Paralympic athletes are with their bodies, and how skilled they are at their respective sports. She talked with a blind high-jumper and watched a women’s rugby contest, and also saw firsthand just how much work goes into being a thrower from a wheelchair or seated position. Green Bay Athletics has the story on its website.